Torpedo.



o. DAVIS.

TORPEDO.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 001:21

Patented July 12 im a wir CLELAND DAVIS, OE THE UNITED STATES NAVY,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSGNIENTS, TO NATIONAL TRPEDO OM'NY, O NEW' YORK, N.'32.,11 CORPORATLON OF MAINE.

TOR-PEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. illy Application filed October 2l, 3.907. Seriallllo. 393,497.

To all who/1i 'it may concern:

lle. it known that l, Cnrrnixn Davis, lieutenant-commander l. S. Iavy, aeitizen ot the United States, residing at Vfanhinglon, in the Bistrietot Columbia, have invented eertain new and ueefui improvements in'l`orpedoes; and l do hereby declare the lfollowing;` to be a full,clear, and exact dei-cription ot' the invention, such a5 will enableothere skilled in the art to which it apper- 1ain l to make and use thesaine.

)ily invention relater-lv to torpedoes, and particularly to that clasSolf torpedoee` that are propelled. o r projected, through the livaterunder the surface thereof, and are adapted to trike the vessel or otherobject attacked belovv the ivater line, and Where armor platingis not sothick, as it usually i5 above the water line.

The objectoi niy invention is to create i greater disabling' ett'ects onthe vessel or other objeetattacked, than is 'novv possible with thepresentY torpedoes 1n general use,

and especially it the ship is provided with armor or other protecting:Ydevieee below the water line.

As is well known, the eli'eet of modern torpedo xSi on vessels providedwith n consider- .able protection of thin, or more or les's thick armorplating belovf they Water line, is to snnply blow a .hole therethrough.'ilus vhole, when there is no armor proteetion, may

be very large, and 'does injury to the vessel largely-by theadiniL-:Sionof water thereto. lt. however. there is a thin armor protection the holeblown through the Sides of Such hhip. will be niuch A-fnialler and itmight, or.

,- able might not, be sullciently large to disthe vessel. And again, ifthe arlnor is made aullieiently thick the hole Will be either too Final]to cause much damage or it will not be made. at all. In fact it is wellknoivn, that il' suilieient armor protec- -vtion is provided, and iftheV torpedo does not` get a ,iair ehanee,.thoeXploSion thereofwilloulyveauxo a greater or lesa bulging' in o'l the Side@ ol the vesselor other objecti attacked.

'lhoobjeet ot iny present invention, more Specifically stated. is tosend high explosives into the vit-als of the Ship and thuis` enable. orinsure her doeii-action, under all conditions. i

To this end my invention consists in "providing an ordinary -torpedoshell with. a simple forni of gun from .which any ordinary projectile,carrying en explosive charge, may be tired and providing;` f id gun witha eixnple, and a certain ineen-fof in- @urine` the tiring" thereof, atIthe moment of impart of the torpedo against the object attacked. Bythi'b` rneauS, l ain enabled to pierce the under Water body ol the Ship,or any protection that niay have been provided against torpedoes uponthe ship that is being4 att; cked. vAlfter the said Ship, its protectionis pierced, the shelhot course, iinay be aus'ed to explode within the.veaeel there.- by dieabling her machinery, or can 'ng her desti-notionby exploding her boilers, or magazines.

illy present invention is an improvementupon a Similar invention madethe Subject ot' iny prior application No. 383,814-, led July 1:3, 1907.

Referring,r to the accompanying drawings forming' a part oli thisspecification, the tigure illustrates a Sectional .view of the War lheadend ol' a standard torpedo Shell.

t A, designates the shell. or air tiask of a standard torpedo, and ll,the war head,

C, represente the ordinary disk elosin the air flask, and l), a flangedring` in the entd Ileavingr the cap suliiciently strong to resiet.

the pressure of the Water while the torpedo is being propelledtherethrough. Said line ot weakness F, also enables the cap to bereadily blown out upon the explosion ot the charge within the gun, andthereby to provide a vent for the accumulated gases within the Var head.Y

lfLrepresents a barrel ot a gun, which is preferably smooth bore, but ofcourse inay be ritled it desired, and yv'iieh is screwed into the diskC, as shown, by means of a wrench, or other tools, suitably engaging theend or muzzle thereof. Said barrchis also suitably supported at its rearby ineans of a Spider or perforated diaphragm J, as Shown,

and is preferably closed at its rear end by means of e. plug K, which isprelerably in tegral with said barrel, but, ol; course, which tachhd t?vide 'any suitable gas check, to prevent the escape of gas between jthebody of said projectile and the inner Walls of the barrel H; and Iprefer one of the expansibleA cup shaped type. I have shown, as anexample, a cup shaped disk Q, provided with the eX- pansible flange R,adapted to be forced outwardly against the bore when the Vcharge L, isexploded, and thereby prevent an undue escape of the gases past theshell, before it leaves the gun. It is also very desirable that theshell should not leave the barrel before the'full s pressure has beendeveloped in the breech of the gun, and to this end I may provide anysuitable retarding device for the shell which will hold the same inposition, ori olier a considerable resistance to the passage of theshell out of the bore, While the powder pressure is being develo ed. Tothese 'ends IA find that a few turns o soft copper Wire S, placed onthe'outside of theI shell, as shown, are suflicient to accomplish thepurpose, in that they exert a jamming action against the bore of thegun, and are yet so soft that the powder pressure is enabled to forcethe shell out of the bore with a high velocity after the full pressa/rehas been developed.

It is essential, in my invention, that the shell shall' have a suicientvelocity', before it strikes the ship, to penetrate the sides thereof,and also any armor protection that may be placedon the same; To theseends, it isv very desirable that the shell shall have as long a travelas is possible, before striking the vessel or other target, that thegases generated from the powder charge shall not be confined infront ofsaid shell and thereby lessen its velocity, and that the shell shallonly be fired when the torpedo`s nose is either in Contact with thevessel, or is in close proximity thereto. Of course, 'it is alsodesirable, in order' to attain this essential velocity, that Water shallbe kept out of the torpedo, and out of the gun barrel containing theshell, before the latter is fired. To accomplish these most desirableand essential conditions, I prefer that the gun barrel Il, be eitherstopped short of the ring D, of the war head, .as shown, or that it beprovided with large perforations at its outer end, in order to permitany gases that escape past the shell toffreely expand, and tlicreby notoppose the passage of thc shell. I also find that by providing a specialweakening mcans,as the line F, on thc cap E, that the said cap may hereadily blown out by a comparatively small pressure, and thereby furnisha ready escape for said gases while the 'water, at the same time, iskepout of the torpedo. I also find that I may very materially lengthen thewar head, without materially disturbing the ballistics of the tor-lpedo; and especially may I do this if I suitably distribute the weightof my barrel H,

charge and projectile.v By thus lengthening the war head, I verymaterially increase the distance through which 'my shell may bepropelled before striking the vessel, and thereby very materiallyincrease the time during which the shell may increase its velocity up tothe desired degree, vwhich isnecessary to enable it to penetrate thevessel.

Since when the projectile is fired the' nose of: the torpedo is eitherin contact with the vessel attacked, or else is very close to the same,the nose of the projectile itselfQ'when tired from the gunwill contactwith said vessel before the base "of said projectile leaves the torpedo.In other words, the projectile will extend some distance within the warhead of the torpedo when it begins toi the weight that such cut ottportion of the barrel would/ issess, and to add Said weight to thecharge and/p/rojectile. This I consider an important/feature of myinvention, for lthat itis very desirable to make both the projectile andcharge as large-as possible, in order that they may have a maximumdestructive effect.

In order to fire my shell at-the proper moment, and in order tomsureagainst its' heilig tired accidel'itally or at any other time thanthe proper moment, I provide the following means: T, representsasuitable perforated lug, -or projection attached to, (ir-integral withthe cap E. provided with a suitable stuffing box U, .as shown, andthrough this lug and stutl'- ing box pass the firing rod lV, providedwith a screw thread X,'over which fits the screw threaded sleeve Y,provided. at its outer end with the ropeller Z. Said rod WV,reciprocates un er the-control of lthe spring A', which rests againstthe disk LC, as shown, and is provided with thefcollar li on the insideof said disk. lV, passes through 'said disk C, -as well as through abearing C in the spider or perforated diaphragm J. lVhen the sleeve Y,is screwed down to the extremity of the screw thread X, as shown indotted lines, the collar B is jammed against the inner surface of thedisk C, .and'thc sleeve Y, is jammed against lthe outer sur- Tliis lugSaid rod.

iso

Z, from forcing scales en' face of the stutl'in'g box U, and the saidrod is firmly locked so that it cannot'be moved in any direction.llllien, however', the torpedo is projected or propelled through thewater, the said propeller Z, will cause the said sleeve Y, to turn insuch a direction as to advance along the screw thread X, and to occupythe position, shown in full lines, when the shoulder D, on the interiorof said sleeve rests against the ring E', on the outer end of said screwthread X, in` which position the propeller aiid spring A', will tend tourge the rod lV, forward, and the collar B, will prevent this furthermovement.

Secured in the torpedo shell A., is the tiring pin support l1". rlhisfiring pin support is suitably bored, as shown, and ca'- ries the firingpin G', provided with the spring H, and the collar K', against which thetrigger L', takes, as shown. Il`he barrel H, is provided with anysuitable vent M', which receives a primer N', or other firing devices,and theV hole is so arranged that when `the collar K', takes against thetrig ger L', as shown, the spring H', is not under tension, and,therefore, it is not possible for the firing pin tol be projectedforward against the prinier N', until the said trigger is tripped by therod l/V, and the said spring tensioned. Nor. is it possible, abovestated, for the rod W, to niove backward against the said .tri ger L,until the ,sleeve has beeirmoved orward bythe propeller Z, in the mannerabove described.

The operation of my device is as followsz-The torpedo isl fired at the'object or propelled in its direction, by the usual and well knownineans. Tpon moving through the water, the propeller Z. sets the collarY, in the position shown. The spring A', is of sufficient tension to preent the pressure of the'wf-=f r against the propeller ra. rod il", backagainst the trigger L, but upon impact of the said propeller Z, againstthe. vessel or other object attacked, the said rod "W, forced backagainst the tension of said spring A',

-into contact with the trigger L, turns the saine on its pivot, tensionsthe spring ll', and then trips the firing pin, when the same, under theaction of the spring, moves forward and explodes the primer.

The explosion of the primer ignites the charge L, which expands theflange R, and jams the retarder S, against the bore of the gun. Anypowder gases that may escape beyond the shell escape intov the war head,and finally blow out the cap ln the meantime the torpedo nose isapproach` ing the y vessel, and the pressure behind the shell is devloping to its ii'iaxiinuni. During the brief interval of time betweenthe explosion of the primer, and the departure of the projectile fromthe nose of said torpedo,

gun, the projectile will have attained its necessary velocity, and thenose of the torpedo will have either contacted with the vessel, or elsewill have approached so close thereto, that the intervening layer ofwater 'will be ofl no consequence.

`in fact, the whole distance between the nose of the tor` pedo and thepropeller Z, is not snll'icient to prevent the shell from penetratingthe vesscls sido.

The fuse O, which niay be of any suitable type is so set, as to causethe shell M, to explode after it passes through the ships 1 side.

Particular attention is called to the fact that in standard torpedoes,or in any other kind, where the ballistics areto be preserved andaccuracy in tlight'is to be attained, that the length of the air flaskis limited, and also that of the war head. Therefore, in such torpedoes,if the gun had to be placed entirely in 'the war head, its length andtherefore the velocity of the projectile would he likewise limited; butif the gun is extended baclt into the air flask, the length of its boremay be greatly extended and the velocity of the projectilecorrespondingly increased, provided the ceiiterof gravity of the systemis not materially disturbed.` I

` have found by actual trial that in practice,

the gun may be sufficiently extended'into the air flask to enable theprojectile to' attain the required velocity, and all without niateriallydisturbing the center of gravity of the system. v

Having now described iny invention what l claim is l. ln a torpedo, thecombination with the shell thereof, of a gun barrel fixed to the saineadapted to fire a projectile therefrom, means forming a fixed and lrigidpart of said shell adapted to exclude water from said barrel, and firingmeans extending beyond said torpedo adapted to contact with the object.to be destroyed, substantially as described. n

2. ln a torpedo,.the coinlfiination with the body thereof adapted tomove through the water, of :i gun carried by the. saine and adapted tolire a projectile therefrom, fixed and rigid means attached to saidshell for excluding water from said gun, and tiring means for said gunextending beyond the substantially as described.

llD

3. In a torpedo, the combination with they I excluding water from saidgun barrel, and

.tiring means extending beyond the nose of saidtorpedo, adapted toycontact with the vessel to bedestroyed, substantially as described.

4. In a torpedo, the Combination with the shell thereof properlyproportioned to enable the same to be fired with accuracy from a torpedotube, of a gun carried by said shell.

' body thereof, of a gulrcarried thereby, a

'charge and projectile carried by the gun barrel, and terminating shortof the nose of the torpedo a distance sufficient to enable theprojectile to acquire a considerable velocity before leaving the glrn,and means for exploding said charge and tiring the projectile consistingof a rod extending beyond said nose, adapted to contact. with the targetattacked, and means operated by said rod for igniting said charge,substal'ltially as described.

t3. In a torpedo. the combination with the body thereof of standardmake, of a gun carried thereby, a propelling charge, a projectile, afuse therein, all carried by the said gun, and leaving a lspace betweenthe point of saidprojectile and lthe nose of said' torpedo, and meansextending beyond said nose for tiring said gun, whereby upon impact.

the' said firing means will ignite the charge and the projectile willattain a considei'-,

able velocityl before it leaves the gun, substantially as described.

' 7. In a torpedo, the combination with the body thereof. of a gun fixedin said body and provided with a propelling charge, a shell providedwith a bursting charge, a fuse in said shell, means to exclude waterfrom said gun, a rod \Vprovided with a propeller Z, and a sleeveY,extending beyond said torpedo, and means adapted to be operated by saidrod to fire said charge, substantially as described.

8. ln a torpedo, the combination with the body thereof of standard make,of a gun fixed in said body and provided with a closed breech, apropelling charge` a projectile havinga bursting charge, a fuse carriedby said projectile, means to exclude water from the gun. having a lineof weakness therein, a rod lV, provided with a sleeve Y, a propellercarried by said sleeve, and firing meansl with which sa'id rod isadapted to contact,substantially as described.

9. In a torpedo, the combination with 'a body thereof of a gnu fixed insaid body, means to'lirc said gun consisting of a rod projecting beyondthe nose of' said torpedo, a trigger with which said rod is adapted tocontact, a firing pin controlled by said trigger, and a'sprmg normallynot under tention for'controlling said firing pin, but adapted to be putander tension when said trigger is swung on its pivot, substantially asdescribed.

l0. In a torpedo, the combination of a gun and a firing mechanismtherefor, com#I prising a rod extending beyond the nose of said torpedo,a spring A', for controllin said rod, a trigger L', with which said rodis adapted to contact, a firing in Gprovidedv with a collar K', withwhich said tri ger is adapted to contact, and a spring l?,

adapted to be put under tension when said substantially as depeller onsaid sleeve, substantially asdescribed. i

l2. In a torpedo, the combination of a gun and a firing mechanismtherefor,'com prising a rod Il' a spring A', on said rod, a. collar. Bon said rod, a propeller Z on said sleeve, a trigger L', withwhich saidrod is adapted to contact. a firing pin controlled `by said trigger, anda springY for propelling said firing pin adapted to b'e tensioned whensaid trigger is operated, substantially as described.

13, In a torpedo, the combination With the body thereof, of standardmake of a gun fixed in said body, and provided with apropelling charge,a projectile having a bursting charge, and a fuse, also in said gun, acap E, provided with a line .of weakness F, adapted to exclude waterfrom said gun, and a-f`n-ing mechanism for said gun comprising the rodprovided with the Sprng'A', the sleeve Y', and the collar B', said rodbein screw threaded at its outer end, and said sleeve engaging saidscrew4 threads, and provided with thc propeller Z, a trigger L',

with which said rod is adapted to contact, a

firing pin G', adapted tol be operated by said trigger, and a springI-I', controllin firing pin and normally inert, and a apted to betensioned when said trigger is operated, substantially as described.

14. In-a torpedo, the combination With'the shell thereof, of a-gunbarrel carried by said shell, of such' a length as to leave a spacebetween the nose of said torpedo and the muzsaid lea

zle of said barrel, and firing means also carlried by said shell,substantially as described.'

'15. In a torpedo, thc combination with the shell thereof, of a gunbarrel carried by said shell, a projectile and charge in said barrel,the combined length of which i's shorter thap said-barrel, and saidbarrel' so located as to leave a space between the nose of said torpedoand its muzzle, and means also carrled by Said shell for firing saidcharge, substantially as described.'

16. In a torpedo, the colnblnatmn of en an' flask and a gun locatedpartly within said flask, substantially as described.

17. In a torpedo the combination of an air flask, a war head, and u gunlocated partly within each, substanliall,v as described.

18. In a torpedo, the combination of an air flask, a war head, a gunlocated Within each, and tiring means for smid gun,.substantially asdescribed.

19. In a. torpedo, the combination of an air flask, a. War head, a gunlocated partly within each, and terminating short 0l the nose of thetorpedo and firing means for said gun, substantially as described.

Q0. A torpedo, having an air tlask, provided with means 'for securing agull partly within the sinne, substantially described.

ln' testimony whereof. I elix my signature, inpresenco el tiveWitnesses.

CLRLAND DAVIS. V'tnesses Geo. B. Prins, A. WT. NEALE, Jr.

